Our inaugural conference, The Chemical Summit, is happening October 24-25 in The Woodlands, Texas. Our exciting agenda features many guests from The Chemical Show podcast. Victoria Meyer shares more about connection and what to expect at The Chemical Summit, including: The importance of connection and community How business connections provide context and insights Fostering connection and community at The Chemical Summit Relaunching The Chemical Community as an online platform Learn more and reg...
Oct 05, 2023•5 min•Ep. 131
Have you ever wondered how companies are repurposing carbon dioxide emissions and turning them into valuable raw materials? In this episode of The Chemical Show, we dive into the world of carbon capture and utilization with our guest, Keith Wiggins, CEO of Econic Technologies . Econic is a company focused on repurposing carbon dioxide emissions into valuable carbon-based raw materials. In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer and Keith discuss the different brackets of technolog...
Oct 03, 2023•43 min•Ep. 130
Our inaugural conference, The Chemical Summit is happening October 24-25 in The Woodlands, Texas. Our exciting agenda features many guests from The Chemical Show podcast. Victoria Meyer shares more about Benchmarking and what to expect at The Chemical Summit, including: The Chemical Summit will provide insights and informal benchmarking for leaders in the chemical industry The importance of benchmarking as a measuring stick in the chemical industry Addressing gaps in benchmarking, particularly i...
Sep 28, 2023•5 min•Ep. 129
With the growing trend towards sustainability and natural products, Aaron Lee, Global Vice President of Home Care and Industrial Cleaning for Univar Solutions , discusses the different segments of their business, highlighting the shift towards innovation in the post-pandemic world. Customers are increasingly looking for natural and sustainable alternatives in the home care space. There is a growing demand for multifunctional natural products, and customers are willing to pay a premium for them. ...
Sep 26, 2023•30 min•Ep. 128
Our inaugural conference The Chemical Summit is happening October 24-25, 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas. Our exciting agenda features many guests from The Chemical Show podcast that you want to meet, learn from, and know. Victoria Meyer shares more about Thought Leadership and what to expect at The Chemical Summit, including: Three pillars of The Chemical Summit : Thought leadership, Building Connections, and Insights that you can apply to your business. What is thought leadership? How does it app...
Sep 21, 2023•4 min•Ep. 127
Now an independent company, Lummus Technology has become a leading technology developer for new capacity expansion investments in the industry. Their expertise, reputation, and skilled team are applying startup energy to excel independently and drive innovation. Leon De Bruyn, President and CEO of Lummus, an expert in the technology and chemicals, has played a crucial role in the growth and success of Lummus. Leon explores the remarkable transformation of Lummus, a more than one hundred-year-old...
Sep 19, 2023•30 min•Ep. 126
The energy transition is an undeniable force shaping the future of the chemical industry. Discussing the need for transparency, engaging with diverse stakeholders, and embracing innovative technologies to pave the way for a sustainable energy future, Beth Gould Creller, Kara Byrne, and Maggie Teliska, of Women's Energy Network (WEN) Podcast joins forces this week with Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show. Women's Energy Network (WEN) is proving to be a game-changer for professional journeys acros...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 125
Effective diversification requires assessing future market trends, identifying parallel markets that align with existing products, and extending reach geographically. In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer, explores the various reasons why companies choose to diversify, including gaining a competitive edge, growing profits, and navigating industry changes. Victoria also discusses the evolving nature of global and regional supply chains and how diversification strategies need t...
Sep 07, 2023•10 min•Ep. 124
Successfully navigating a newly-formed company’s first years comes with challenges and opportunities in business systems, workforce development, and sustainable manufacturing. Listen and learn as Victoria Meyer speaks with John Foley, CEO of Verdant Specialty Solutions about solidifying the business in its first two years, then building a platform for growth. John discusses leading the acquisition and integration of multiple businesses in the chemical sector. With a focus on building a strong te...
Sep 05, 2023•47 min•Ep. 123
Ep 122 Show Notes Customer Centricity is more than customer satisfaction, it’s about centering on the “right” customers to create Strategic Value. Host Victoria Meyer delves into the concept of customer centricity and its role in creating business resilience. Through insights from leading chemical companies' earnings reports and experts, Victoria unpacks the importance of customer centricity and its impact on strategic value creation. This is part 2 of host Victoria Meyer’s 3 part series on appr...
Aug 31, 2023•11 min•Ep. 122
Have you ever wondered how the future of operational excellence in the chemical industry will be shaped by digital transformation? In this episode of The Chemical Show, Victoria Meyer welcomes guest Stephen Reynolds, Industry Principal for the Chemical Segment at AVEVA , a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability. Stephen shares his insights into how technology is revolutionizing operational excellence and empowering employees to drive the business ...
Aug 29, 2023•43 min•Ep. 121
Exercising good commercial discipline is critical to business resilience and navigating the challenges of today's economy. Over the next 3 episodes, host Victoria Meyer will be diving deep into approaches that chemical companies are taking to combat the market weakness we've seen in the first half of this year (for more on this, check out Episode 118 where I review 2Q23 earnings reports). Victoria’s topic this week: Commercial Discipline Victoria dives into the concept of commercial discipline a...
Aug 24, 2023•14 min•Ep. 120
Trillium is making waves with their green technology, replacing petroleum feedstocks with renewable feedstocks to make acrylonitrile. In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer chats with Corey Tyree, the co-founder and CEO of Trillium Renewable Chemicals about building successful partnerships, the power of experience, and driving sustainability in the chemical industry. Learn more about the following topics this week: Creating partnerships to support product development in a star...
Aug 22, 2023•21 min•Ep. 119
While most chemical industry companies and business leaders were anticipating improvements by 2H23, it has proved to be a challenging quarter for most companies, leading into a challenging year. In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer explores why many companies are lowering full-year earnings outlooks and what’s driving current market conditions. Learn more about the following in this episode: Insights from 2Q23 chemical industry earnings reports Worst period of chemical inven...
Aug 17, 2023•18 min•Ep. 118
The global chemical industry job market continues to feel the ripple effects from the pandemic and work-life balance values have shifted. Sharing his insights on the state of the chemical industry, Stephen Mothersole, CEO of Chemical Search International , joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show to discuss the challenges in diversity and inclusion, the impact of remote work on talent acquisition, and the changing hiring criteria post-COVID. Learn more about the following topics this week:...
Aug 15, 2023•36 min•Ep. 117
From collaborating with major brands to navigating the challenges of sustainable product development and end-of-life solutions, Scott Bober, Senior VP of Global Sales at CJ Biomaterials joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show to provide valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of sustainable chemicals and materials. CJ Biomaterials is a startup within CJ CheilJedang , the 7th largest conglomerate in Korea. Victoria and Scott discuss CJ’s recent acquisition of Metabolics, giving them...
Aug 08, 2023•32 min•Ep. 116
Digitization and supply chain go hand-in-hand. In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer welcomes Arun Samuga, Chief Innovation Officer at Elemica to expand on the development of new digital products and solutions in the area of supply chain innovation. Arun emphasizes the importance of educating potential clients about the advantages of embarking on a digital journey while exploring the various benefits of digitization, including reducing working capital, increasing cash on hand...
Aug 01, 2023•44 min•Ep. 115
Wondering how to get better results from your strategy? In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer explores the topic of strategy execution and the common pitfalls organizations face. Victoria discusses the necessity of involving the entire organization in the strategy process to ensure understanding and alignment. Citing a recent study conducted by Harvard Business Review, Victoria highlights the significant gap between executives' perception of strategic alignment and employees'...
Jul 27, 2023•14 min•Ep. 114
In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer invites George L. Vann, president of EcoServices, which is a part of Ecovyst to chat about his unique career path - from graduating with a mechanical engineering degree, to serving in the military, to various roles in the chemical industry. George emphasizes the importance of long-term relationships with customers and the need for long-term contracts to establish trust and dependability. He also shares insights into fundamental factors ac...
Jul 25, 2023•29 min•Ep. 113
Your customers are the key to strategic success. In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer delves into the importance of engaging customers early on to de-risk business strategy. Victoria shares valuable insights and strategies for effectively engaging customers and stakeholders during key business changes and decisions. Discussing the benefits of introducing a new product or service and involving customers early in the development process, Victoria explores the barriers and fear...
Jul 20, 2023•13 min•Ep. 112
In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer talks with Karen Tkaczyk, director of Life Sciences Regulated and Enterprise Solutions at MasterWord to share more about her unique combination of industrial and service experience as she helps chemical, energy, and life science companies do business globally with minimal risk. Victoria and Karen discuss the importance of technical expertise in language translation services, talent shortages influenced by the pandemic, the impact of geopo...
Jul 18, 2023•36 min•Ep. 111
Do you treat your B2B customers the same or personalize your engagement and their experience? In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer focuses on segmentation and personalization. B2B companies in the chemical industry often focus on organizational factors when segmenting their market. However, limited use of segmentation can leave both parties feeling unheard. By prioritizing customer relationships and serving them appropriately, companies can address specific needs in a unique...
Jul 13, 2023•14 min•Ep. 110
American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) to chat about his organization's efforts towards a circular economy and rail safety. Victoria and Chet discuss the importance of recycling and innovation, the challenges of reducing plastic waste, rail safety, the dual challenge of producing energy while maintaining sustainability, and the immense value and benefits of plastics. Learn more about the following in this episode: AFPM's top priorities Storytelling in the chemical industry UN Plast...
Jul 11, 2023•41 min•Ep. 109
On this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer is joined by Peter Hanik, President and Founder of Pretium Innovation. Victoria and Pete discuss the importance of innovation in the chemical industry, as well as strategies for problem-solving and understanding customer needs. Learn more about the following in this episode: Innovation in the chemical industry Crafting a long-term career in chemicals "Type Three" Problems and Solutions Adapting to cultural differences in a global career S...
Jul 04, 2023•34 min•Ep. 108
Humans are master storytellers and as business leaders, we should harness the power of storytelling. In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer explores why storytelling is critical for businesses to control the narrative about their performance, products, and value creation. Victoria shares how business storytelling involves interpreting facts and creating emotional connections as well as what makes a good story - starting with the end in mind, choosing the right information and ...
Jun 29, 2023•13 min•Ep. 107
In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer interviews Kevin Yttre, Managing Director at Grace Matthews , an investment bank that exclusively focuses on the chemicals and materials industries, assisting with mergers, acquisitions, and capital raises. Kevin shares valuable insights about the world of M&A, explaining M&A strategies, the role of ESG credentials, recent slowdowns in the industry, success factors in transactions, and much more. Topics you can expect to learn mor...
Jun 27, 2023•29 min•Ep. 106
"The last experience that your customer has with you and your brand, usually delivery from a logistics provider, defines their perception of your business and your company." – Victoria Meyer, President, Progressio Global In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer discusses the importance of managing your company’s Customer Experience (CX) through third-party service providers. She emphasizes the importance of defining key communication roles, channels, and expectations to ensure a...
Jun 22, 2023•17 min•Ep. 105
"It's not a matter of if a company is going to adopt technology transportation management system, but more of when? When are they going to do that? Because you have to if you want to improve anything within your company, it starts with having access to the data and being able see it from what it is." - Jennifer Braun, VP Trinity Logistics On this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer speaks with Jennifer Braun, VP of Trinity Logistics , about navigating the dynamics of the chemical s...
Jun 20, 2023•36 min•Ep. 104
“Understanding your value, driving value, and demonstrating it creates opportunity and creates growth, especially in times of market softness." - Victoria Meyer On this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer discusses the importance of getting back to basics and understanding a company's unique value in order to thrive during market softness. She highlights the story of a materials company that successfully increase sales by emphasizing their value in use to customers. She also discus...
Jun 15, 2023•11 min•Ep. 103
"People didn't think about the demographics enough. They didn't think about the role of real estate and debt. And they built capacity on the assumption of, say, 6% or 7% consistent growth, which we are unlikely to experience in the future." – John Richardson, Senior Consultant, ICIS In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer and guest John Richardson of ICIS discuss China's aging demographic and the future of the chemical industry. They delve into China's projections for becoming ...
Jun 13, 2023•45 min•Ep. 102